166 The decent begins (1/2)
His spread-eagled form was found amidst the groaning bodies of his crew, all in their own respective forms of exaggerated pain.
Fawkes could almost swear that he had pulled something, what with the tedious and downright stupid idea of hacking at a wave of water. Yet, here he was, having done exactly that and now groaning like an old man stretched too far past his capabilities.
Terrick sat at the side, nursing his paining sides with one hand as he used the other to bandage a surface cut that he had received.
As soon as the marine assault had concluded, the weather had begun to clear. The sleets of rain reduced to a petty and tame drizzle, after which even that ceased to give way for a sunny and pleasant morning that Fawkes had not seen coming.
The only ones on their feet, were the monstrous captain and the equally monstrous doctor. Sorren walked between the collapsed figures with a small flask of an unnamed concoction that he dubbed 'energy malt'.
Over the course of their previous trip into Sphinx, he had finally managed to recover from the temporary weakening he had suffered on Barts' island. At least enough for him to prioritize the health of the rest of the crew over his own recovery. (Not that he ever neglected one for the other)
As Fawkes stared at the cloudless sky, he could not help but grimace. He could smell the faint whiff of the algae that grew on the walls of the Red Line. They were close to it, the heights of human despotism within the known world.
The wind curled through the ship's half open sails, much more docilly then it had ever in the past few days.
”Gang, prepare for the dive! We'll be waiting up here till you guys gather your breath, then we're diving under the Red Line! From what I've heard we'll be going straight into fishman territory, so buckle up.
We'll simply be passing through, Marco did assure us that the royal family wouldn't make things too hard for us, what with Whitebeard's writ of passage and all. Best to be gone quick though, we don't know which school of these guys we end up offending if we stay here too long! I've heard it's almost as bad as Sabaody.” The captain called out from his position at the wheel.
His voice easily traveling over the silent winds as he turned towards us.
With a slight moan at the effort Fawkes began to rise, his upper body caked with sweat as he began to get to work. He was almost completely sure that his face looked more zombie like then human, what with the listless expression and eyes that screamed with agony.